Combination Heat Sink Formed of a Stack of Heat Spreader Sheet Members

ABSTRACT

A combination heat sink formed of a stack of heat spreader sheet members is disclosed. Each heat spreader sheet member has a flat base panel two side flanges respectively perpendicularly extending along two opposite lateral sides of the flat base panel in a parallel manner, a plurality of narrow elongated notches respectively symmetrically formed on the two opposite lateral sides of the flat base panel, and a plurality of protruding positioning portions respectively formed of the side flanges in such a manner that when two heat spreader sheet members are attached together the protruding positioning portions of one heat spreader sheet member are inserted through the narrow elongated notches of the other heat spreader sheet member bent sideways and secured to the side flanges of the other heat spreader sheet member, and therefore the two stacked heat spreader sheet members are firmed secured together.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a heat sink and more particularly, to a combination heat sink formed by means of fastening a number of heat spreader sheet members in a stack.

2. Description of the Related Art

An advanced electronic device has a high operation speed. During operation of a high-speed electronic device, much waste heat is produced. To maintain normal functioning of a high-speed electronic device, heat sink or cooler means must be provided to carry waste heat away rapidly, avoiding the accumulation of heat. To enhance the heat dissipation performance of a heat sink, the heat spreading surface area must be relatively increased. Increasing the number of heat spreader sheet members or radiation fins can increase the heat spreading surface area. However, increasing the number of heat spreader sheet members or radiation fins of a heat sink relatively lowers the fabrication speed.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a combination heat sink that can be easily and rapidly assembled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a combination heat sink, which is formed of a number of heat spreader sheet members that are fastened together in a stack. It is another object of the present invention to provide a combination heat sink, which allows quick installation of a number of heat spreader sheet members to form the desired combination heat sink without the use of any fastening devices.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a combination heat sink is formed of a stack of heat spreader sheet members. Each heat spreader sheet member has a flat base panel and two side flanges respectively perpendicularly extending along two opposite lateral sides of the flat base panel in a parallel manner. Further, each side flange has a plurality of protruding positioning portions. When two heat spreader sheet members are attached together, the protruding positioning portions of one heat spreader sheet member are bent sideways and secured to the side flanges of the other heat spreader sheet member, and therefore the two stacked heat spreader sheet members are firmed secured together.

Further, the flat base panel of each heat spreader sheet member has a plurality of narrow elongated notches respectively symmetrically formed on the two opposite lateral sides thereof. When two heat spreader sheet members are attached together, the narrow elongated notches of one heat spreader sheet member receive the protruding positioning portions of another heat spreader sheet member respectively, facilitating installation

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates two heat spreader sheet members before installation according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 corresponds to FIG. 1, showing the two heat spreader sheet members attached together.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, showing the protruding positioning portions of one heat spreader sheet member fastened to the side flanges of the other heat spreader sheet member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a heat spreader sheet member 1 in accordance with the present invention is shown comprising a flat base panel 11, two side flanges 12 respectively perpendicularly extending along two opposite lateral sides of the flat base panel 11 in a parallel manner, and a plurality of narrow elongated notches 111 cut through the flat base panel 11 and symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides and respectively transversely extending through the side flanges 12. The side flanges 12 are stamped, forming a plurality of protruding positioning portions 121 corresponding to the notches 111. The protruding positioning portions 121 are respectively suspending right below the notches 111. The extending direction of the notches 111 is perpendicular to the corresponding side flange 12.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 and FIG. 1 again, when stacking two heat spreader sheet members 1 together, one heat spreader sheet member 1 is attached to the top side of the other heat spreader sheet member 1 to insert the protruding positioning portions 121 of the upper heat spreader sheet member 1 through the notches 111 of the lower heat spreader sheet member 1, and then the protruding positioning portions 121 of the upper heat spreader sheet member 1 is bent sideways to have the protruding positioning portions 121 of the upper heat spreader sheet member 1 be closely attached to the side flanges 12 of the lower heat spreader sheet member 1. Thus, the two heat spreader sheet members 1 are fastened together. By means of the aforesaid installation procedure, a number of heat spreader sheet members 1 are stacked up, forming a heat sink.

Further, the heat spreader sheet member 1 is a single-piece member made of a copper or aluminum sheet material.

In conclusion, the invention has advantages and features as follows:

1. By means of inserting the protruding positioning portions 121 of a first heat spreader sheet member 1 through the notches 111 of a second heat spreader sheet member 1, and then bending the protruding positioning portions 121 of the first heat spreader sheet member 1 sideways to have the protruding positioning portions 121 of the first heat spreader sheet member 1 be closely attached to the side flanges 12 of the second heat spreader sheet member 1, two heat spreader sheet members 1 are fastened together in a stack. Thus, a number of heat spreader sheet members 1 can be stacked up easily and rapidly, forming a heat sink. Further, because a heat spreader sheet member in accordance with the present invention is a single-piece member directly stamped from a copper or aluminum sheet material, the fabrication cost is low.

2. The gap between the protruding positioning portions 121 and the topmost edge of the side flanges 12 is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the flat base panel 11, therefore the flat base panel 11 of one heat spreader sheet member 1 can be fitted into the gap between the protruding positioning portions 121 and side flanges 12 of another heat spreader sheet member 1 to have the flat base panel 11 of one heat spreader sheet member 1 be supported on the side flanges 12 of another heat spreader sheet member 1, allowing circulation of air through the space between the flat base panels 11 of the two stacked heat spreader sheet members 1.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A combination heat sink formed of a stack of heat spreader sheet members, each said heat spreader sheet member comprising a flat base panel and two side flanges respectively perpendicularly extending along two opposite lateral sides of said flat base panel in a parallel manner, wherein each said heat spreader sheet member comprises a plurality of narrow elongated notches respectively symmetrically formed on the two opposite lateral sides of the flat base panel thereof, and a plurality of protruding positioning portions respectively formed integral with the side flanges thereof corresponding to said narrow elongated notches in such a manner that the protruding positioning portions of one said heat spreader sheet member are respectively inserted through the narrow elongated notches of another said heat spreader sheet member and bent sideways to have said heat spreader sheet members be fastened together in a stack and the flat base panel of one said heat spreader sheet member be supported on the side flanges of another said heat spreader sheet member.
 2. The combination heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat spreader sheet member is a single-piece member
 3. The combination heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat spreader sheet member is formed of a copper sheet material.
 4. The combination heat sink as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said heat spreader sheet member is formed of an aluminum sheet material. 